not much has been written about the famous reelmaker julius vom hofe - and not even a photography of the man has been found to date. below is the information i have found so far - and if you know any other facts about the man and his life - however small - i encourage you to add it here in this thread. thank you.
from the schlegel’s american families of german ancestry (1917):
«julius vom hofe, second child and son of friedrich and wilhelmina (lühling) vom hofe, was born at the family home in the town of altena, province of westphalia, kingdom of prussia, germany, august 6, 1837. he obtained his early educational training in the volks-schule of his native town, where he continued his studies up to 1849, in which year his mother, wihelmina (lühling) vom hofe, emigrated with her children to the united states. having first arranged their family affairs and property interests, the mother with her children took passage on the sailing vessel «kirkwood», upon which they embarked from the city of antwerp and set sail for the harbor of new york city, where they finally landed after a tedious and stormy voyage across the atlantic. upon their arrival at castle garden in new york city, the family were met by the husband and father , who had preceded them to this country.
the family at once took up their abode in new york city, where young julius attended the public schools, and soon after, laying aside his schoolbooks, he became associated with his father in his work of manufacturing fishing reels, and under his father’s direction and guidance, he was enabled to acquire a practical knowledge of the various details and technique of the work, as well as of the trade. in the course of time julius vom hofe became identified with his father’s budiness interests, and he was thus actively engaged in this line of enterprise up to the time of his father’s death, when the son julius undertook the management of his father’s interests on his own account. in this undertaking the young manufacturer met with a marked degree of success as the logical result of his skill and ingenuity in the manufacture of his wares. julius vom hofe not only continued the business along the lines and methods which his father had adopted, but in the course of time, he enabled himself to devise and perfect a number of valuable improvements pertaining to fishing reels and their accessories, etc, which he had patented. these devices were in course of time placed on public exhibition, and in 1893, during the world’s fair at chicago, illinois, and again in 1904, at the great exhibition held in st. louis, missouri, julius vom hofe received the highest award in the form of a gold medal, for thoroughness and perfection of his fishing reels.
during the many years of his commercial activities in the eastern district of the borough of brooklyn, julius vom hofe became identified with the social and fraternal interests of the community wherein he resided. he was an active member of the arion singing society, and he was also an active member of copernicus lodge of the free and accepted masons, in the eastern district of the borough of brooklyn.
he died at his home in keap street, borough of brooklyn, april 19, 1907.
married, in new york city, in 1861, clara wittich, born in the capital city of coburg, in the grand duchy of saxe-coburg-gotha, germany, march 8, 1839. clara (wittich) vom hofe died at her home in the borough of brooklyn, june 17, 1913.
issue of julius and clara (wittich) vom hofe:
• amelia, born july 24, 1864, in the eastern district of brooklyn. she obtained her educational training in the turn verein schule on meserole street, and completed her studies in st paul's school in the city of brooklyn.
• minnie, born august 1, 1866, in the eastern district of brooklyn. she obtained her educational training in the public school no. 19. married, june 6, 1895, philip neidig, born may 21, 1867. they have no issue.
• clara, born october 1, 1868; died in january 1873.
• julius, jr., born november 12, 1871, of whom forward.
• anna, born may 27, 1877. she obtained her educational training in public school no. 19. she married thorkild avensae [avensoe]. they have no issue.
• edward, born april 21, 1879; died october 3, 1903.
• alfred, born september 21, 1882.»
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mr vom hofe’s obituary, from brooklyn daily eagle, april 22, 1907:«julius vom hofe, who died friday at his residence 322 keap street, after a long illness, was a famous fishing reel manufacturer, his particular kind of reel being known throughout the world because of its fine workmanship and rewinding attachment. he had been a resident for many years of the eastern district and his factory adjoins his residence, at the corner of keap and south fifth streets. he had a summer residence in rockaway, on bayside place, and he was a great lover of boating and fishing. he was a man of quiet habits and was never part of public life. he was a member of the arion singing society for many years and also belonged to copernicus lodge of freemasons. he was born in germany 71 years ago, and came to this country when a lad. he is survived by his wife clara wittig. funeral services will be held this evening.»
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mr vom hofe’s obituary, from forest & stream magazine, may 4, 1907:«because he was of a quiet, retiring disposition, few anglers knew the late julius vom hofe — whose death was announced in these columns last week — but they were all familiar with the class of work he put into his fishing reels. mr. vom hofe’s fishing reel factory, on south fifth street, near the brooklyn end of the new williamsburg bridge, adjoined his residence in keap street, and he was seldom found far away from home or shop. when the fishing was good he might be found at his little cottage in bay side place, hammels, rockaway beach, or in his fishing boat near by. generally he went out alone, and only those in whom he confided knew how great was his store of knowledge concerning practical fishing as well as reel making. jamaica bay was an open book to him, and his special favorite was the striped bass, whose haunts he knew intimately.
mr. vom hofe’s birthplace was altena, westphalen, germany. he came to the united states in 1848, his twelfth year. he began the manufacture of reels in 1857, in new york city, and five years later removed to brooklyn. his reels were exhibited at the world’s fairs in chicago and st. louis, at both of which the highest awards and gold medals were received by him. four years ago his son edward, died, and since then his health began to fail, the end being due to apoplexy. he is survived by mrs. vom hofe, two sons, julius and alfred, and three daughters. his sons will continue in the business in which they were trained by their father.»
photo: dean a. smith
) on top.
